Eating Disorders21 November 2013

Krissy Schwerin, MDChild and Adolescent PsychiatristCanterbury District Health BoardSouth Island Eating Disorders ServiceChild Adolescent & Family Rural Service

Overview

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) Bulemia Nervosa (BN) Binge Eating disorder (BED) Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder (UFED) Other Eating/Feeding problems

Diagnosis Epidemiology Medical risks Etiology Treatment Prognosis

Misconceptions

Myth: White, upper-middle class females in metropolitan areas of the western world

Eating disorders are increasing in prevalence in males, younger children, older adults, and other ethnic groups.

Our field needs to do a better job screening and treating…

Case Vignette #1 - CarlaCarla is a 13 year-old female who presented to

the ER with a grand-mal seizure from hyponatremia. She had been binging on water in order to fend off hunger. Carla had always been a happy child and great student, but had recently become obsessed with her schoolwork and isolated from her friends and close-knit family.

Carla began losing weight after her PMD told her she was overweight. This coincided with a family trip to parents’ country of origin where Carla didn’t like the food. She lost >40 pounds and stopped getting her period

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) - DSM V- Persistent restriction of energy intake leading low

weight (lower than minimally expected for age/sex)- Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, or

behaviour that interferes with weight gain- Disturbance in body image, undue influence of

shape/weight on self-evaluation, lack of recognition of seriousness of low body weight

- Restricting sub-type- Binge-eating/purging sub-type

**DSM-IV: 1. “refusal” to maintain weight 2. <85 percentile weight 3. amnorrhea was required

Anorexia Nervosa: chief complaint…- Family or school is concerned about eating

habits or personality change- Physical symptoms- Other psychological concerns – depression,

anxiety, obsessive- “unintentional” weight loss- Amenorrhea

- Patient: “I’m fine!”

Anorexia Nervosa:Risk Factors, Precipitating Factors, & Traits

Perfectionism Early Puberty Failed attempts to lose weight Antecedent illness with weight loss Athletics Beginning a diet Family history of eating disorder Life/family stressors

Anorexia Nervosa: Epidemiology

Lifetime prevalence 0.5-1% Females:Males 10:1 Usually arises during adolescence or

young adulthood Increased risk in 1st degree biological

relatives with AN 1/3 will develop bulimia nervosa Long-term mortality 10-20%

Physical Risks Death (suicide, starvation, sudden cardiac death) Hypometabolic state (bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia) Orthostasis Dehydration Arrhythmia, heart failure, liver failure Bone marrow suppression Malnourishment Bone loss Lanugo Peripheral edema Stunted growth Delayed sexual maturity Hair loss, brittle hair Cognitive impairment Water intoxication Re-feeding syndrome

Neurological Effects

• Cerebral Atrophy• Associated with

weight loss but not necessarily with lowest BMI

• May improve but do not necessarily return to normal

Katzman D et al, Journal of Pediatrics 1996

Anorexia Nervosa: Medical Workup

- Vitals (w/ temperature)- ECG (look for long QTc)- Lytes, CBC, LFTs, ESR, TFTs, CK- β-HCG, LH, FSH, prolactin, estradiol if indicated- Bone density

(don’t be fooled by normal bloods!!!)

Etiology

From Silber et.al.

Anorexia Nervosa: Treatment Determine level of care

Inpatient medical stabilization Inpatient eating disorders service Outpatient treatment

1st: weight restoration 2nd: psychological 3rd: maintenance (long-term)

Multidisciplinary Team Approach! (psychiatrist, PCP, nurse, psychologist, family therapist, social worker, occupational therapist, dietician)

Considering Medical Admission

<75% ideal body weight Hypothermia T<35.5 C Bradycardia HR<50 (peds) or HR <40 (adults) Orthostasis-drop in sbp >10, increase in HR>35 Dehydration Potassium < 2.5 or other electrolyte abnormality Acute medical complication Delirium Re-feeding syndrome Severe depression/suicidality– psychiatric admit

Anorexia Nervosa: Treatment

No evidence-based psychotherapy for Anorexia Nervosa in adults!

No evidence-based pharmacologic treatments in any age!

Psychological Treatments:Adolescents with AN

Family Based Treatment (FBT) (aka “Maudsley Approach”) no-blame approach, family did not cause anorexia family is the best resource to help her/him get better Empower parents to get the young person to eat in order to save

his/her life: “intense scene” Align siblings with the patient for support “Externalize” the anorexia Family Meal (Session #2) Focus on weight restoration first then explore the family dynamics and psychological issues that

may get in the way of maintaining weight

Psychological Treatments:Adults with ANNone are “evidence-based”We use…Motivational InterviewingCognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)Supportive PsychotherapyMetacognitive TherapyCouples or Family Therapy, or family involvementPsychodynamic Therapy Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)Group Therapy

Anorexia Nervosa: Medications No approved medication treatments for Anorexia

Nervosa

Fluoxetine (or other SSRI) for co-morbid depression or anxiety

Growing evidence for low-dose atypical antipsychotics (Olanzapine) for obsessive ruminations and possibly weight gain (still off-label)

Re-feeding Syndrome Metabolic abnormalities as a result of reinstating

nutrition to patients who are malnourished Potentially fatal Low phosphate Edema Tachycardia Hypoglycemia (hyperinsulinemic response) Treatment

admit replace phosphate higher protein: carbohydrate ratio

Anorexia Nervosa: Prognosis

1/3 recover 1/3 continue with milder course 1/3 chronic severe

Young age of onset, short time since onset of illness: very good prognosis

>7 years of illness, very unlikely recovery (but not zero!!!)

Case Vignette #2: KatieKatie is a 20 year-old University student who had been in

therapy for anxiety, self-harm, and a prior trauma that occurred in early adolescence. One session Katie revealed to her therapist that she had an embarrassing secret that she wanted to disclose. She had been bingeing and purging multiple time per week throughout the course of treatment. For years she had gone to great lengths to hide this from roomates/family, going to extents of hiding bags of vomit in the outside rubbish. She finally decided to tell her therapist and ask for help, because after years of being under 130 pounds, her weight has now increased to 134 pounds and she thinks her body is “disgusting”. Current BMI is 22.

Bulemia Nervosa (BN)– DSM V Recurrent episodes of binge eating (eating larger

amounts of food than others would eat in a discrete- 2 hour- period of time, with a sense of lack of control)

recurrent episodes of compensatory behavior (vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, excessive exercise)

Both occur at least 1x/week for 3 months Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape or

weight Does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia

Nervosa

**DSM-IV: compensatory episodes had to be 2x/week

Bulemia Nervosa: Risk Factors, Precipitating Factors, & Traits

Often normal weight or overweight (easy to forget to screen for eating disorders!)

Shame and guilt History of sexual abuse not uncommon Impulsivity, risk-taking behaviours Depression/anxiety, emotional dysregulation, self-harm Less denial compared to AN, but may go to great lengths

to keep symptoms secret

Bulemia Nervosa: Epidemiology Lifetime Prevalence

1.5% women 0.5% men

Prevalence of binge-purge behaviors: 13% girls 7% boys

Slightly older average age of onset compared to Anorexia Nervosa

Purging extremely rare in children

Bulemia: Etiology

Multifactorial!!!

Media factors

genetic

Individual Temperament(ie. impulsive)

biological

Family dynamics

Societal, cultural

Medical Risks Electrolyte abnormalities (hypokalemia, ketosis) Dental – loss of enamel, chipped teeth, cavities Parotid hypertrophy Conjunctival hemorrhages Calluses on dorsal side of hand (Russell’s sign) Esophagitis, Mallory-weiss tears, Barrett esophagus hematemesis Latxative-dependent: cathartic colon, melena, rectal

prolapse Elevated CK or other injuries (over-exercising) Poor nutrition (if severe purging) Edema upon cessation of purging

Bulemia Nervosa: Treatment Again, multidisciplinary team!!! Adults:

Best evidence: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) + Antidepressant (SSRI)

Adolescents Evidence for adolescents is sparse; we extrapolate

from the evidence for adult treatment CBT + SSRI or Family-Based Treatment (FBT) modified for BN

(good evidence, but not as good as for AN)

Bulemia Nervosa: CBT or DBT Best evidence is for CBT or DBT (good outcomes, but

outcomes are short-term) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Thought Challenging: “I will gain weight if I eat normal amounts of food.” Break the cycle of: “dieting” -> feel hungry/deprived -> binge -> guilt -> purge

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)Chain analysis, mindfulness, emotion-regulation skills

Felt angryCalled friend, She was too Busy to talk

Felt lonely BingeFight with mom

thought

feeling behavior

Bulemia: Other Therapies Family Therapy and/or family involvement Interpersonal therapy (IPT) (short-term

treatment focused on life transitions) Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (good for

long-term results in people with chronic depressive and personality symptoms)

Psychotherapy for comorbidities

Bulemia Nervosa: Medications High-dose Fluoxetine (SSRI) – very good

evidence! Sertraline (SSRI) – some good evidence Topiramate (mood stabalizer, promotes weight

loss) – some good evidence, but use with caution especially if low-weight

Remember: Buproprion (other antidepressant) is contraindicated! (risk of seizures if history of purging)

Bulemia: Prognosis

33% remit every year But another 33% relapse into full criteria Adolescent-onset better prognosis than

adult-onset Death-rate = 1%

Case Vignette #3 - LauraLaura is a 47 year-old divorced female in treatment for

depression. She has suffered from morbid obesity ever since she stopped using cocaine 13 years ago. When Laura’s teenage son (who is involved in an inner-city gang) does not come home on time, or when she feels empty and lonely about not having a romantic relationship, she eats excessive amounts of food, despite her mindset and efforts throughout the rest of the day to watch her diet. Laura visits multiple different fast-food restaurants in succession and in neighborhoods far from home, so that this behavior will not get noticed by others. Laura one of 7 siblings. She is always identified as the “strong” one in the family who will take care of others who are ailing.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) – DSM V Recurrent episodes of binge eating

Eating definitely more than most people would eat in discrete 2-hour period of time

Sense of lack of control during the episode Three or more of the following:

Eating much more rapidly than normal Eating until uncomfortably full Eating large amounts when not physically hungry Eating alone because embarrassed by how much eating Feeling disgusted, depressed, or guilty afterwards

Marked distress regarding binge eating On average at least once a week for 3 months No compensatory behaviours such as in bulemia nervosa

**DSM IV: Binge-eating disorder was only in the appendix, frequency of binge episodes was >2x/week

Binge Eating Disorder vs. Obesity

Binge Eating Disorder: may be overweight, but not required for diagnosis

Binge Eating Disorder: more subjective distress about episodes of over-eating compared to obese non-BED

Binge Eating Disorder:Epidemiology Most common eating disorder Lifetime prevalence:

3.5% women2% men

Binge Eating Disorder: Etiology

Multifactorial!!!

Media factors

genetic

Individual Temperament(ie. impulsive)

biological

Family dynamics

Societal, cultural

Binge Eating Disorder:Treatment (Medication) SSRI

high dose reduces binge behavior short-term but doesn’t help weight loss

Topiramate, Zonisamide (anticonvulsants, mild mood stabalizer) Helps binge reduction Helps weight loss Caution for adverse effects, high discontinuation rates

Binge Eating Disorder:Treatment (Therapy) Therapies either prioritize…

Weight loss Binge-reduction Neither (ie. relationships, depression etc)

Group psychotherapy There is little evidence that obese individuals

who binge should receive different therapy than obese individuals who do not binge

Binge Eating Disorder:Psychosocial Support

Family may need help with co-dependency Attachment approach, particularly with youth

Weight loss programs 12-step self-help groups (addressing the

problem as an addiction) Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous

Case Vignette #4: AlisaAlisa is an 8 year-old girl who was admitted to the hospital

for malnutrition. She had stopped eating due to a subjective sense of stomach pain every time she ate. Nasogastric feedings were initiated, and Alisa underwent a complete GI workup which was negative for a medical cause for her pain. Her parents had difficulty accepting that there may be a psychological component to her illness. Parents were divorced, with a high level of post-divorce conflict. Alisa’s older brother had low-functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder with behavior/aggression problems, and the family were always impressed with Alisa’s resilience. Alisa denied body image distortion or desire for weight loss.

Other Eating/Feeding DisordersDSM V Pica- eating non-nutritive substances Rumination Disorder- chewing/spitting,

re-chewing, regurgitating Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake

Disorder- failure to meet energy/nutritive needs, dependence on enteral feeding or supplements

Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder (UFED) Formerly Eating Disorder NOS (EDNOS)

Clinically significant distress/impairment but do not meet criteria for other eating disorders

May be used when not enough clinical information (ie. emergency room settings)

Atypical presentations

** Overall changes in eating disorders are meant to limit the use of this “unspecified” category, which was too large in DSM-IV. (ED-NOS was more common than AN or BN, and actually represented a very “sick” group.)

Other Feeding Problems in Infancy/Childhood (non-DSM) Selective Eating Food Phobias Pervasive Food Refusal Food Avoidance Emotional Disorder

Eating Disorders: Take Home Points Great need for provider-awareness (both in mental

health and non-mental health) Very medically risky!!! Need intense psychological AND

medical management! Multifactorial etiology Multidisciplinary treatment approach Involve the family in treatment whenever you can Young patient with new AN cannot afford to wait for FBT Prevalent in teens, but much less research to guide us in

their treatment Little evidence for medications in EDs: this is why

psychiatrists need to be more than med-managers!

References Hay et.al. “Psychological Treatments for Bulemia Nervosa and

Bingeing” The Cochrane Library 2010 Lock, J., “Evaluation of Family Treatment Models for Eating

Disorders” Current Opinion in Psychiatry 2011 Lock & LeGrange Treatment Manual for Anorexia Nervosa, Second

Edition 2013 Rosen et.al. “Identification and Management of Eating Disorders in

Children and Adolescents” Pediatrics 2010 Treasure et.al. “Eating Disorders” Lancet 2010 Vocks et.al. “Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Psychological

and Pharmacological Treatments for Binge Eating Disorder” International Journal for Eating Disorders 2010

www.dsm5.org Feeding and Eating Disorders Fact Sheet, American Psychiatric Association 2013

Any questions?

krissy.schwerin@cdhb.health.nzkrissy@schwerno.com